Reinforced absorbable polymers

Abstract

A composition of an absorbable polymer and a filler to increase the stiffness of the polymer is disclosed. The filler is a poly[succinimide], which is a bioabsorbable polymer that degrades into a nontoxic, simple amino acid. The composition can be melt processed to prepare medical and surgical devices, particularly those devices which are designed to penetrate bodily tissue or to withstand heavy loads. Typical surgical devices which can be made from the composition include surgical staples and ligating clips.

We claim: 
     
       1. A surgical device comprising an absorbable matrix comprising an absorbable polymer selected from the group consisting of aliphatic polyanhydrides, aromatic polyanhydrides polylactones homopolymers, polylactone copolymers, poly(esteranhydrides), polyiminocarbonates, polyesters of oxalic acid, polyesters of malic acid, polyesters of tartaric acid, polyamides, poly(aminoacids), nontoxic polypeptides, poly(hydroxybutyrate), poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate), bacterially derived polyesters, polyphosphazenes, polyesteramides and block copolymers of polyethylene glycol and polylactones capable of being absorbed by the body containing as a discrete filler material, a poly[succinimide], in an amount sufficient to increase the stiffness of the polymer, having repeating units represented by the following formula: ##STR2## 
     
     
       2. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is a surgical staple. 
     
     
       3. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is a ligating clip. 
     
     
       4. The device of claim 1 wherein the synthetic absorbable polymer is derived from at least one lactone monomer. 
     
     
       5. The device of claim 4 wherein the lactone monomer is selected from the group consisting of lactide, glycolide, 1,4-dioxanone, trimethylene carbonate, δ-valerolactone, ε-caprolactone, 1,4-dioxepan-2-one, 1,5-dioxepan-2-one, cyclic dimers thereof and combinations of two or more thereof. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim 4 wherein the absorbable polymer is selected from the group consisting of homopolymers of 1,4-dioxanone and copolymers of lactide and glycolide. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim 6 wherein the absorbable polymer is a homopolymer of 1,4-dioxanone. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim 1 wherein the amount of the poly[succinimide] filler in the absorbable polymer is between about 10 to about 80 percent of the weight of the composition. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim 1 wherein the amount of the poly[succinimide] filler in the absorbable polymer is between about 20 to about 40 percent of the weight of the composition.